Alternator Cost

How Much Does an Alternator Cost?

An alternator generates the power needed to operate a vehicle's electrical system and to keep its battery charged. Dim lights, a whining noise or a dashboard warning light (typically shaped like a battery or saying "ALT") may indicate that the alternator is going out.

Typical costs:

An alternator produced by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer typically costs $100-$500 or more for just the aftermarket part, depending on the year, make and model of vehicle; and $250-$1,000 or more for one made by the vehicle manufacturer (called an OEM part). Less-expensive alternators may also be rebuilt or remanufactured (rebuilt at a factory).

Alternators for foreign vehicles are typically more expensive than those for domestic American cars, and parts for luxury vehicles are typically the most expensive. For example, RepairPal.com[1] estimates the typical cost of an alternator part for a 2008 Toyota Camry at $271-$649; or $995-$1,111 for a 2008 Lexus LS460.

On a vehicle where the alternator is located near the top of the engine, providing relatively easy access, replacing the alternator typically requires one to three hours of labor at about $50-$120 an hour, bringing typical total costs for parts and labor to $200-$600 for an aftermarket part or $300-$1,200 for an OEM alternator at a dealership.

If the vehicle's alternator is located deep inside the engine, requiring the disconnection and removal of many other parts to reach the alternator, replacing the alternator can take five to eight hours of labor at about $50-$120 an hour, bringing typical total costs for parts and labor to $400-$800 for an aftermarket part or $500-$1,800 for an OEM alternator installed at a car dealership.

For example, RepairPal.com[2] estimates that replacing an alternator on a 2008 Toyota Camry 2.4L 4 Cylinder costs $271-$649 for parts and $96-$122 labor in Sacramento, CA or $110-$141 labor in Trenton, NJ, for total costs of $364-$771; and for the same model car but with a 3.5L V6 engine, the part costs the same but labor is estimated at $336-$771, bringing total costs to $596-$1,077.

Replacing an alternator requires disconnecting the battery, disconnecting the belts and wires attached to the alternator and removing the bolts that secure the alternator to the vehicle. On many cars this is a relatively straightforward process that takes a couple of hours of work. However, on a few cars the alternator is difficult to reach inside the engine, and requires removing multiple parts and wires before the alternator can be disconnected and removed. It all depends on the make and model of vehicle, and how it is put together.

AutoMD.com explains how to replace an alternator[4] , estimating that in general this a moderately complex project that takes about 2.1 hours.

Additional costs:

When replacing the alternator, it's a good idea to check the condition of the serpentine belt, which winds through the front of the engine in a snake-like manner, bringing power to the alternator and other accessories. If the serpentine belt is chipped or cracked and needs replacing, it can add $25-$75 or more to the total cost.

Shopping for an alternator:

Before replacing the alternator, make sure it is causing the problem. The Family Handyman magazine explains how to test the battery and alternator[5] to determine which one is not working properly.

Alternator replacement can be done at a car dealership, an independent repair shop, or car-repair chains like Pep Boys[6] or Sears[7] . Both the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence[8] and the International Automotive Technicians Network[9] provide a searchable directory of repair shops.

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We were driving and the engine died -- the dashboard went dark, then the car started lurching. We thought it was the gas but after putting in a couple gallons it didn't start. We called AAA and they told us it was the alternator. They were able to start the car and followed us home. Then we called a couple of nearby shops to check prices and found a nearby gas station that had a reasonable quote and was available on a Saturday afternoon. Then we had AAA tow us there. The mechanic said the official Subaru alternator was $485 just for the part, but could find an OEM part for $190+90labor+75 for the diagnostic. The diagnostic was optional but we decided to do that too just to be safe in case the initial diagnosis was incorrect. A little disappointed that the engine would just die like that while driving on a car only 8 years old (under 100k miles).

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